University Honours Leading Females at Winter Graduations

During the 2025 Winter Graduation ceremonies on Wednesday 3 December, the University of St Andrews honoured the former Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, The Right Honourable Lady Dorrian PC KC FRSE, and BBC journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Young with honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degrees.

The Tuesday graduations also involved the awarding of honorary degrees to renowned cardiologist Dr Robert M Califf MD MACC, and global energy executive and engineer Raphael Vermier CBE.

Lady Dorrian, 68, who received her doctorate in the Wednesday morning ceremony, was awarded the doctorate for her “long, illustrious career as the most senior woman in Scottish legal history,” according to the Laureation given by Dr Mateja Peter from the School of International Relations. 

The Right Honourable Lady Dorrian

Her accomplishments include her appointment to the Crown Counsel in 1994, becoming a full-time Senator of the College of Justice in 2005, and in 2016 becoming the first woman to be appointed as Lord Justice Clerk, the second most senior judge position in Scotland.

Dr Peter summarised Lady Dorrian’s career during the ceremony as “one of firsts — trailblazing a path for women in Scottish law.” 

After the ceremony, Lady Dorrian spoke exclusively with The Saint and expressed her appreciation for the doctorate, saying, “It’s so nice to [be] recognised and to be honoured by [the] prestigious University of St Andrews.”

She described that the history of the University left her “quite humbled” and feeling connected to the “countless number of people” who have preceded her.

When prompted to give advice for the recent graduates, Lady Dorrian told The Saint that “I’m not a great one for giving advice because I think for it to be valuable, it has to be tailored to the individual.” 

She added, “The only piece of advice I think would be sensible to give anyone [is to remain] open-minded enough to be able to recognise when something is an opportunity and to go for that opportunity when it crosses your path.”

Scottish-born BBC presenter and journalist Kirsty Young also received a Doctor of Laws (LLD) honorary degree during the afternoon ceremony on Wednesday. 

Dame Sally Mapstone & Kirsty Young

Regarded as one of the “most respected broadcasters in the UK” by the University, Young has had a decorated tenure in television and radio spanning over three decades.

Professor Tom Rice, of the School of Philosophical, Anthropolitical, and Film Studies, cited Young’s “major contribution to British media and broadcasting” as the reason for her honorary recognition during the ceremony, adding that she “remains one of the most distinctive, authoritative, and reassuring voices in broadcast journalism.”

Young is acclaimed nationwide for her closing remarks during the BBC’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral. She has fronted numerous historic and national broadcasts, including the Coronation of HM The King and Queen Camilla, VE Day 70, the Battle of Britain 75th anniversary, the Somme centenary, and the BAFTA-winning coverage of the 100th anniversary of The Battle of Passchendaele.

For over a decade, Young hosted the BAFTA-winning Desert Island Discs for Radio 4, and in 2022, to anchored the BBC’s coverage of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. She now presents the BBC Sounds podcast Young Again, speaking with notable guests about the lessons they would share with their younger selves.

Speaking exclusively to The Saint, Young reflected on the defining moments of her career: “Two things stand out for me [...] Queen Elizabeth’s funeral […] It felt weighty to be trusted with. I was part of a team doing the final hour and a half, and it felt like something I did not want to get wrong. It was a great privilege.”

She also recalled the personal and professional intensity of broadcasting during 9/11, when a routine 30-second news flash became five and a half hours of live coverage.

“Nobody anticipates a moment like that in their career. I also happened to be able to speak live on air to my husband, who was in New York [...] that had a lot of personal and professional impact,” adding “You can’t plan for that.”

Reflecting on the many memorable interviews and encounters her work has brought, Young said: “The interesting people stand out […] One of the great things about this job [...] is you get to go to unexpected places, and people talk to you. That’s the beauty of the job.”

Photos by Maria Ebrahim